Wessex Group Show: Twenty-eight down, one more to go

With only a few more shows to go for our 2014 season our enthusiasm is still surprisingly strong. The Wessex Shetland Pony Group will be our twenty-eighth show with twenty-four different ponies.

The Wessex Group’s final show of the year was on the 26th October held at Kingston Maurward College Equestrian centre. For us it was nearly a one-hundred mile journey through the New Forest on the coast road to Dorchester. Although, gaining an hour on the clocks the night before did make the two and a half hour trip slightly easier.

Our two filly foals Snelsmore Ruby Tuesday and Snelsmore Ricicle both travelled well and they arrived looking really great. A good bath and plenty of practice leading payed off and they performed beautifully. We were really pleased with them and couldn’t ask for any more of a foal however could only manage a fourth and fifth place. With this start, we couldn’t help thinking was it going to be one of those days.

Our disappointment didn’t last long; Snelsmore Quiz Master lead by Alan made big strides forward from his first outing by winning the Novice and the Yearling classes, beating Snelsmore Quicksilver in third place. We decided at the last moment that perhaps Cliff or I should show little Snelsmore Pinocchio in the two year-old class and I jumped at the chance. I made the most of the opportunity by winning and going on to be Reserve Junior Champion. This brings Pinocchio’s two-year career to a successful end, not bad for a little fella; three shows, three different handlers, three Reserve Junior Championships.

In our last class Cliff gained a fourth place with Snelsmore Orlando, so the day showing our young ponies finished reasonably well. Luckily we arrived home with enough time to get used to the fact the nights are now drawing in. Think it’s time we started settling in for winter.